[Ty Ford]

Hello Myles and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Yes, try Bouke’s idea.

Make copies of the files and work with the copies.

Also try to open copies of the files with Sound Device Wave Agent. If they do open, see if there’s anything in the header that needs a tweek.

https://www.sounddevices.com/products/waveagent/

Please let us know what happens.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Rebecca,

I forgot to mention that you’re a lot more likely to encounter a buzz if your gear is running on AC. Sometimes, switching to battery eliminates the problem.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Hello Rebecca and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Good ideas from everyone so far.

Sometimes the house system audio is noisy and plugging in can result in a ground loop which results in a buzz. If you can live with the noise do that. Be aware that the operator may change the level and you may need to compensate for that in the moment. In a properly designed system, that won’t happen, but you never can tell.

If that’s the case (and you should get there early to hear what the system sounds like) you may want to setup another mic at the podium and grab clean audio.

Frequently the “line level” I am given from the house is somewhere between mic and line, forcing you to decide which setting (mic or line) to use on your camera. I try to get a sound check to figure out the best settings and use a mixer before the camera so I can more easily make adjustments if necessary.

I once attached a wireless lav to a podium mic on Capitol Hill because the house feed was pretty nasty. It worked, but you also have to be aware of cell phones that cut the range of the wireless. Putting the receiver as close as possible to the transmitter and cabling back to your audio input can help.

Do you need the audience questions? If so, how good does that audio need to be? Usually there are “runners”, people with wireless mics who take the mic to the person asking the question. Will the question askers be on camera? If not, you may be able to get their sound from someone operating your boom mic to a separate channel or camera.

And, trust me on this, you will have to tell people to wait for the mic even if you announce ahead of time that you will be bringing a mic to the person with a question. A second plan would be to put a mic on a stand at the front of the audience and make people with questions come to the mic. Again, you WILL have to coach people to, “Please use the microphone!” because they will just start asking questions from their seat.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Peter,

On behalf of the Cow, thanks again for your Service Beyond Expectation.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Hello Ian and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

I have one of these:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/544917-REG/Ion_TAPE_2_PC_TAPE_2_PC_USB.html/BI/8631/KBID/9745

and find it works well.

Curiously, when I plug my turntable into its OUTPUT jacks on the back, it also converts the consumer line level of my Audio Technica turntable as well. My turntable as a built in preamp, so it’s not just sending the unEQd signal from the phono cartridge.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Hello Martin,

Please do let us know what the QC outcome was!

Thanks for stopping by.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Hello to Down Under Karen,

“Transparent” may mean something different below the equator. Up here it means “doesn’t interfere with the sound much.”

Most lavs are omni. As such, they hear from all directions and ore high frequencies from whatever teh diaphragm is aimed at, regardless of make, model, gender preference or color.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Hello Karen,

Cardioid lavs are made, and are more directional than omni lavs, but you have to be a lot kore careful with placement.

The Sony you mention is good, but the SOny 77B and 8B are also good.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

Brian,

Yeah, that’s where I was going with my last question.

Good for you.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ty Ford]

That’s a mono mic.

https://www.azdencorp.com/new/product.php?productid=93299

Brenden, what camera did you use and what sort of cable?

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog